It’s normal for our teeth to get yellower and darker as we get older. After all, every day we eat and drink more things that contribute to the stains on our teeth. Professional teeth whitening is a fast, effective way to remove those stains. We offer two kinds...

Do the words gingivitis and periodontitis mean anything to you? They should. They are both forms of gum disease, and they can pose a threat to your oral health and to the appearance of your smile. Our dentists want you and the rest of our patients in Phoenix to...

TMJ problems are more common than many people realize. Fortunately, you don’t have to go far to find help if you are experiencing a TMJ disorder if you live or work near Phoenix. The dentists of Desert Dentistry have four offices in and around Phoenix where they...

For decades, people had one option for straightening their teeth: braces. Today, many patients choose Invisalign® instead. This remarkable service doesn’t use brackets, wires, or those tiny rubber bands. Invisalign is a comfortable, convenient, and clear way to...

If you are having a dental emergency, Desert Dentistry wants you to get help as soon as possible. For emergency dental care, call the closest location to get in touch with us as soon as you are able. We will make every effort to see you today, and we guarantee your...

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A: Dental anxiety is common, and we’ve planned our practice specially for our nervous patients. We have a variety of ways to help you relax, from longer appointments and private rooms to blankets, TV, and music.

If you’re still nervous about your dental care, then we’re glad to offer several different levels of sedation to get you through your appointment without fear! Sedation dentistry has fast become a hallmark of many dental practices, and we’re glad to offer it to you at all four of our Phoenix area practices!

Q: What Should I Do If I’ve Lost a Tooth?

A: As you age, there are plenty of factors that can cause tooth loss! The unfortunate fact is that no matter how well you take care of your mouth, there can still be reasons your teeth don’t last forever. When this happens, it’s important to be seen by the dentist as soon as possible! Tooth loss means that you will also start to lose bone mass, which can start a chain reaction of tooth loss!

Your jaw is full of sockets that house your teeth. These sockets are made up of thin bone that begins to disintegrate without a tooth present to support it. As this happens, your neighboring teeth start to shift, changing your bite and resulting in less overall stability. When this happens, the change in bite can lead to further problems when your teeth don’t fit together right anymore! More shifting can result, which can lead to more tooth loss!

A bridge can help stop the domino effect of tooth loss, but it doesn’t prevent the recession of bone. The best way to protect and preserve your jaw’s natural strength and shape is with a dental implant. At Desert Dentistry, we excel in the placement and restoration of implants – you’ll love these amazing restorations!

Q: Are Regular Teeth Cleanings Really Important?

A: Preventative maintenance is important for a lot of things in life – think about your car. You can keep it running well by not driving too rough, not slamming on the gas, and keeping your tires inflated properly, but you need to do more than that to make it last – the same with your teeth!

Taking care of your oral health at home is important, but it doesn’t mean much if you don’t come in for a regularly scheduled checkup and cleaning – just like getting your oil changed! By scheduling a cleaning every six months, you ensure that your preventative habits are effective and that we are able to deep clean the spots that you just can’t get to at home!

You wouldn’t wait until your engine seizes up to go to the mechanic, so don’t wait for a cavity before seeing your dentist!

Q: What Are The Best In-Home Oral Care Habits?

A: When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy between regular dental appointments, brushing and flossing is essential! The hard part can be determining the best schedule and techniques to ensure your home habits are effective! You should always brush twice a day and floss once, usually in the evening.

As for brushing, make sure you always use a soft-bristle brush that you replace every three to four months. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your tooth, and brush in a sweeping motion away from your gumline. Make sure you brush all of the surfaces of your teeth – front, back, and top! Also brush your tongue to remove excess plaque and bacteria.

Flossing should be done nightly, and it removes plaque your toothbrush can’t reach. It’s important to make sure your teeth are clean and plaque free to prevent cavities between cleanings!

When you look in the mirror, are you happy with the teeth you see? Do you hide your mouth behind your hand in an attempt to mask your smile? Do you keep your teeth closed when you grin to avoid showing stained, chipped, or damaged teeth? At Desert Dentistry, we can make all of those flaws a thing of the past! Cosmetic dentistry procedures at our four Phoenix area dentist offices will get you the smile you’ve always dreamed of!

Whether you want whiter teeth or a complete smile makeover, we can make your dreams happen! All of our family cosmetic dentistry procedures start with an appointment at your preferred location. While you’re there, we’ll take any necessary X-rays, digital 3-D impressions, and exams of your mouth to ensure you’re a good candidate for your desired procedure. You’ll meet with your dentist to discuss your plans and treatment goals, and then we’ll establish a treatment timeline to get you the smile of your dreams!

When you want to reshape an otherwise healthy tooth, veneers are an ideal solution! Made of wafer-thin porcelain, veneers are placed on top of an existing tooth. By removing a millimeter-thin layer of enamel, veneers can whiten, reshape, and perfect your teeth!

We are able to offer a variety of different types of veneers, each suited to a different kind of need. When you come to Desert Dentistry to discuss veneers, we’ll be able to offer you the perfect solution!

Teeth Whitening

If you already have a smile you love but the color has dulled from years of coffee, tea, or smoking, you might just want a whiter smile! We are more than happy to help you get a bright, fresh smile that will give the “wow factor” back to your teeth!

Whitening at Desert Dentistry can be done in the office or from the comfort of your own home! We offer several types of whitening, and we can even whiten the most sensitive of teeth! As an added bonus, we’ll even supply you with whitening for life if you make all of your regularly scheduled appointments! Imagine being able to keep your bright smile for as long as you are a patient at our practice!

Orthodontic Solutions

If you want to straighten your smile – and do it fast – we’re thrilled to offer several short-term orthodontic solutions! We are able to provide you with discreet and effective teeth straightening that will do its job in far less time than you could imagine possible!

Invisalign is for patients with minor correction needs and uses a series of clear trays that no one will even notice! Fastbraces and Six Month Smiles are both amazing options for patients who are willing to wear traditional brackets. These state-of-the-art systems are ideal for adult patients who want a straight smile without waiting two years!

Teeth Bonding

If you want to reshape your teeth and want it done now , teeth bonding is an excellent solution! Bonding involves the use of tooth-colored resin that is applied directly to your smile. Your dentist will shape it into the perfect look and then harden it with a special light. After that, you’ll have a great new smile!

Bonding is a great option for patients who want the results of veneers for a fraction of the cost.

Teeth Recontouring

Recontouring involves the reshaping of your teeth by removing enamel. As opposed to other methods that add material to your teeth to reshape them, recontouring only involves taking material away. This is an ideal solution for patients with chipped teeth, overly long teeth, or irregularities in the surface or shape of a tooth. Even better, recontouring can be done quickly and easily, giving you a new smile in just one visit!

If you look at your smile and think you need multiple procedures to get the smile of your dreams, then a smile makeover is a great solution for you! Using a series of techniques all perfectly planned by you and your dentist, we’ll create your dream smile. You’ll be amazed at the results a smile makeover can create!

If you have any questions about our various cosmetic dentistry in Phoenix, AZ, don’t hesitate to call our office today! You can reach your nearest office by phone or by filling out our online contact form. We look forward to helping you get your dream smile!

As you age, tooth loss becomes more and more likely. Whether due to trauma, gum disease, smoking, or decay, losing teeth eventually becomes part of life for many people! When tooth loss happens, you have several solutions – live without a replacement, get a bridge, or become a member of the satisfied group of patients using the most advanced tooth replacement method in the world – dental implants!

What are dental implants? A dental implant is small, but it makes a big difference for our patients. The size of the root of your tooth, a dental implant is a hollow screw with internal and external threading. It is placed in your jaw and quickly integrates with your bone, creating a strong, permanent attachment. Once secured, your teeth implant is restored with one of several appliances, depending on what your implant is going to be used for.

We also offer implant placement immediately after tooth extraction. If you want an implant, we’ll make sure it’s in place the same day!

What Kinds of Roles Do Implants Fill?

Implants are the newest go-to device in restorative dentistry and are used for a variety of treatments. You’ll love the implant advantage!

Single Implant Solutions

Instead of a bridge to replace a single missing tooth, an implant can be used. This is greatly preferred for several reasons: first, there is no need to reduce the adjacent teeth to fit under crowns, leaving you with more healthy, natural teeth! Second, implants can save you from future tooth loss!

When even one tooth is lost, a domino effect can start. As your bone where the lost tooth sat begins to shrink, your adjacent teeth will start to shift to fill the gap. This causes them to loosen and become more prone to loss as well. If one of them falls out, it’s the same cycle all over again, but with fewer teeth and less bone to support the remaining teeth. By placing an implant, the bone is preserved and you completely avoid any future tooth loss!

We also offer mini implants, which are a much smaller size than standard implants. These are great for patients who have experienced a greater degree of bone loss, or those who need an implant placed in a tricky location.

Multiple Implant Solutions

When you are missing a large number of teeth or are just tired of your poorly fitted and constantly slipping dentures, we can find a solution using multiple dental implants. We have several ways multiple implants can work for you, including an amazing same-day solution!

Imagine a full set of teeth that are just as stable as your natural ones. Now imagine that they are permanent – no more denture cleaning and the other headaches of having removable teeth! Hybrid implant dentures are the premier solution to the fatigue that many denture wearers experience after years of those very same hassles! By placing four to six implants, we can construct a set of replacement teeth that are held in place by your implants and function just like the real thing! Not only will you be getting the top-of-the-line in dental restoration, you’ll also be leaving with a brand-new smile the same day we place your implants! This temporary bridge will still look incredibly realistic, and you’ll still have all the same functionality that you’ll have with your permanent set. Aside from experiencing some sensitivity while your implants heal, you’ll be able to enjoy your life with a new set of permanent teeth right away!

We also offer implant-retained and implant-supported dentures, which are a great solution for patients who are happy with their current dentures. Even if that removable set works great, you undoubtedly still experience incidents where you wish they were more stable – that’s where implant support comes in!

Using a series of teeth implants that are topped with either metal balls or a bar, we can modify your dentures to clip securely onto your dental implants in Arizona! This will provide an incredible level of stability that you could never get with traditional dentures. Even better, we can modify your existing dentures for use with implants, saving you time and money!

Dental implant procedure is one of the largest leaps in dental technology in years. They are safe, effective, and preserve your oral health in ways that no other solution can compare to. If you are ready to experience all the great things that implant dentistry can give you, call our office today! You can also schedule an appointment using our online form. We look forward to seeing you soon!